Plant Tissue Cult. 7(1) : 63-69, 1997 (June)

Free Cell Culture, Organization and Plant Regeneration in Santalum album L.

A. Mujib, S. Das and S. Dey

Biotechnology Centre, Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur-721 302 West Bengal, India

Key words: Sandal, Suspension culture, Somatic embryogenesis

Abastract

Cell suspension culture was initiated from embryogenic callus derived from hypocotyl and other sources by placing callus masses on liquid MS media supplemented with 2, 4-D (4.52 ?M). Continuous agitation on gyratory shaker yielded proliferation of embryogenic callus and released substantial free cells and cell aggregates. In suspension culture, three distinct cell types were commonly found. Compact small round cells with their certain follow-up behavior termed them as embryo initials. A series of sequential events and their organization resulted multicellular embryo from single celled stage. Further growth and conversion into plantlet was exclusively observed when the cultures were plated on semisolid agar media with or without plant growth regulators. Fully developed plantlet grew better on liquid media soaked filter paper on petridishes. In spite of some developmental anomalies embryo-regenerated progenies showed normal morphology and growth habit.

Download Full Article